Translucent display



May 14, 1 940.

R. M. .NELSON El AL TRANSLUCENT DISPLAY Filed Feb. 18, 1939 M IIIIII Patented May 14, 1940 TRANSLUCENT DISPLAY Connecticut Application February 18, 1939, Serial No. 257,164

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in translucent displays and more particularly to such displays which depend for illumination on remote light sources.

It is anobject of the invention to provide a display of this type in which alphabetical characters or numerals or any form of 'indicia, such as emblems or pictorial representations of objects can be arranged in sequence to form such messages as may be desirable, and which. are easily visible during daylight hours as well as during darkness. The visibility in the latter instance comes from a source to the rear of said display and is transmitted through translucent portions thereof.

Another object is that of providing a display of this type which may be readily assembled in any desired form from standard interchangeable parts and which, when once assembled, will con- 2 tinue to function over long periods of time with no attention whatsoever.

A further object is that of providing a translucent medium for use in connection with such displays, which. in addition to carrying light from the rear of the display through to the vision of those looking at the display, also diffuses certain portions of such transmitted light to areas immediately adjacent the forward face of the display. I

Vfifith these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attached sheet of drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one form of display embodying our invention;

' Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the background of the display shown in Fig. 1 and disclosing certain details of our invention;

40 Fig. i shows a fragmentary perspective view of another type of display embodying our invention;

Fig. 5 is a section of of the display shown in,

Fig. 4 taken along the line 5-5 of that figure in the direction of the arrows;

45 Fig. 6 is a front sectional view of the display shown in Fig. 4 taken along the line 6-43 of that figure in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective View of still another type of display embodying our :in-

vention;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-section of a display showing a slightly modified .form of mounting the translucent members in accordance with our invention; and

55 Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-section .of a display embodying a further modification of the mounting of the translucent members.

Turning now to Figs. 1 through 3, we notice a display body comprising a front panel I and a rear panel .I I. These panels may be of any suitable material but are preferably formed of, for example, composition board, plastic material, fiber, cardboard, wood, or metal. These panels may be secured together in any suitable manner as, for example, by the clamping panel member 12 which, in the embodiment illustrated, extends along the top of the display.

Hanging means such as a chain I3 secured to the channel member by eyelets I 4 and I may also he provided, if desired. The forward face of the front panel H) is provided with any suitable arrangement of letters or numerals It to provide a suitable message. As has been illustrated, it is preferred that the letters or numerals be printed, lithographed, or painted on the display in a relatively light color, which will contrast with a darker colored background on the front panellfl.

Positioned throughout the outline of each letter or numeral and preferably extendingthrough the center line thereof. are spaced openings H which register with correspondingv openings I8 in the rear panel I I. As will be apparent in Figs. 2 and 3,, the under or rear side of the openings I1 are preferably countersunk to provide tapered openings, the widest diameter of which is on the rear or back side of the panel I'll; while the openings 18in the panel II, are countersunk on their forward surface so that in that instance the widest diameter of the tapered openings I8 is on' the front or forward side of the panel I I.

After the openings I! and I8 have been prepared, spherical translucent inserts H are positioned in each of the openings I8 on the panel ii, and then the panel I0 is placed on top of the 40 panel II with its openings I! in registry with the openings I8. It will be noticed, as shown in Fig. 2, that the diameter of the spherical members I9 is substantially that of the greatest diameter of the tapered openings I! and I8, and that the combined thickness of the panels I0 and I! is less than the diameter of the spherical members I9. As a result, When the display is in assembled condition, as shown in Fig. 2, the spherical members I9 project both 'rearwardly 150 and forwardly to a slight degree from said .display, and are in effect locked in position within the two panels of the display. The spherical members It may be of any suitable translucent material, such as glass, plastic, or the like, and

may be colored in accordance with the tastes of the user.

Referring now to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be noted that the display illustrated in these views comprises a panel 20, formed of any suitable material as in the case of the display just described, which, for example, may have secured to its lower edge an angular plate 2|, this latter member being provided with a highly polished or reflecting upper surface. Letters or numerals 22 in silhouette or relief form are provided for application to the panel 20 and may be secured thereto by means of glue, bolts, or any other suitable method. Likewise, the front face of the letters or numerals 22 may, as has heretofore beendescribed, be colored in a lighter tone than the forward face of the panel 20, to contrast therewith. Also, as has heretofore been described, each of the letters or numerals is provided with a series of circular openings 23 extending through the center line thereof and which register with similar openings 24 extending through the panel 20. As has been described, in connection with the preceding view, each of these openings in the letters or numerals 22 is provided with a countersunk rear edge or taper so that its greatest diameter is to the back of the openings, whereas the openings 24 in the panel 20 are provided with countersunk or tapered portions at the forward side thereof. Translucent spherical members 25 are then clamped between the letters 22 and the panel 20, the combined thickness of which is less than the diameter of the spherical members. so that they project slightly both rearwardly and forwardly of the display, as is clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

The display shown in these figures may also be provided with openings 26 along the upper edge of the panel 20 for hanging the same at any suitable position, or might be positioned on an easel, not shown, which will allow the display to be positioned on a flat, horizontal surface.

Turning now to Fig. 7, we find a further modification of our invention, in which letters or numerals in silhouette are provided with front panels 21 and rear panels 28. These, in turn, may have downwardly projecting portions 29, permitting of assembly in a panel member 30 in any desired spacing, to form suitable messages or the like. As in the case of the displays heretofore described, each of the letters or numerals in this modification are provided with complementary tapered openings in their front and rear panels by means of which translucent spherical members 3| are clamped in position, it being apparent that the panels 21 and 28 can be secured together by gluing, or by the use of bolts, or other suitable means. Likewise, as has heretofore been brought out, the combined thickness of the panels 2'! and 28 is less than the diameter of the spherical members 3| so that the latter project to a degree both forwardly and rearwardly of the assembled display.

Referring to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the translucent members may be mounted in the display, which comprises a rear panel 32 and a forward panel 33, the rear panel having openings 35 in registry with the openings 35 in the forward panel, it being noted that the openings 35 are tapered, with the largest diameter on the inner face of that panel. Translucent members 34, perfectly in the shape of spheres, the diameters of which are slightly greater than the diameter of openings 36 or of the smallest diameter of the openings 35, are then inserted between the two panels and the latter clamped together, thus locking the translucent members in position.

Finally, referring to Fig. 9, it will be noted that the letters, numerals or other indicia may be mounted on a piece of canvas or other material 31 which may, for example, form a portion of the awning or canopy or the like. In such adaptation it is preferable that the letters or numerals be in silhouette and that they comprise a front panel 39 and a rear panel 4i each in registry with the other. As in the case of the letters heretofore described said front and rear panels are formed with complementary openings 40 and 42 in which are positioned spherical translucent members 44 which, as heretofore described, may be formed of glass or other suitable material it being noted that such translucent members are of a diameter slightly in excess of the largest diameters of the tapered openings M1 and 42 formed in the indicia members. The material 31 is likewise provided with openings 38 in registry with the openings appearing in the indicia members so that when the complementary front and rear panels of the indicia members are placed at either side of the material 3'! and the translucent members clamped between, it is only necessary to secure said indicia members together to have a stationary structure. This may be accomplished in any suitable manner, as for example by using rivets 43. It will be noted in this connection that the members 39 and 40 would not alone serve to hold the translucent spheres in position but also by clamping the material 31 between their inner faces likewise serve to support the letter or numeral in position.

In operation, any of the embodiments of our invention heretofore described may be viewed during the daytime from the front of the display as any painted, printed, or silhouette display would be viewed. In addition, and for the sake of contrast, the display may be so placed as to cause strong sunlight or other lighting means to be positioned to the rear of it, and thus be transmitted through the translucent spherical members and give the appearance of illuminating the latter. In the modification shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the polished or reflecting surface of the angle member 2|, may be so positioned with respect to the light source as to cause the same to be reflected through the spherical members as diagrammatically illustrated by the dotted lines Fig. 5.

In using this type of display, it will readily be appreciated that a great saving in operating costs over the ordinary electric sign can be effected, because a single small electric bulb positioned above the reflector can supply sufficient light to illuminate the entire display. If desired, this type of display can be boxed or enclosed together with a light source as a unitary object.

When used at night, the several displays heretofore described, in addition to transmitting light from behind through the translucent spherical members so as to cause the outline of the letters to be apparent, have the added property of diffusing a certain proportion of the light transmitted to the area immediately adjacent the front surface of the display. If such adjacent area has been colored in a light tone as heretofore suggested, the effect of such diffusion will be to cause the entire letters or numerals in the display to become illuminated and stand out.

It is, of course, apparent that the several displays illustrated and shown have many features which may be interchanged one with the other without departing from the spirit of my invention. Likewise, many changes in form and construction of the displays here illustrated and described can be resorted to without in the least departing from the spirit ofour invention. Having described our invention, we claim: 1. A translucent display including in combination, an opaque panel, a plurality of circular apertures in indicia relationship carried thereby, spherical light translucent members of a diameter slightly greater than that of the openings in said opaque panel and positioned in said openings, and a plurality of members in the form of indicia super-imposed upon said openings in said opaque panel and having openings in registry therewith, for holding said spherical light translucent members against displacement and wherev by a light source behind said display will be visible through said translucent members and a portion of such transmitted light will be diffused to the outer surface areas of said indicia members illuminating the latter.

2. A translucent display including in combination, an opaque panel formed with a plurality of circular openings arranged in indicia relationship, spherical light translucent members of a diameter slightly in excess of said panel openings and arranged to be positioned thereon, and a plurality of members in the form of indicia, corresponding to the indicia formed by the panel openings, said indicia members having openings complementary to said panel openings and for registry therewith, whereby said spherical membersmay, be held between said panel-and said indicia members upon a clamping of the former to the latter, and whereby a light source positioned behind said display, will be visible through said translucent members and a portion of such transmitted light Willbe difiused to the outer surface of said indicia members to illuminate the translucent members in position-between its inner surface and said first named opaque member whereby a light sourcebehind said display will be visible through said translucent members and a portion of such transmittedlight will be diffused to thelight reflecting areas immediately adjacent said openings on the outer'su'rface of said second opaque member.

RICHARD M. NELSON.

KENNE'I'H W. MCNEIL. 

